Peter Cohan Speaker Biography
Globally Recognized Expert on Business Strategy, Entrepreneurship, Technology and Management; Inc. & Forbes Columnist
Peter S. Cohan is a globally recognized thought leader in business strategy, entrepreneurship, and technology-driven growth. As an Associate Professor of Management Practice at Babson College, he teaches strategy, leadership, and entrepreneurship across undergraduate programs, MBAs, Executive Education, and specialized master’s programs. With decades of experience advising executives, investors, and startups, Peter delivers actionable insights that help organizations navigate change, innovate effectively, and achieve lasting competitive advantage.
Founder, Investor, and Startup Advisor
Peter is the founding principal of a management consulting and venture capital firm. He has successfully completed over 150 growth-strategy consulting projects for global technology companies and invested in seven startups—three of which were sold for nearly $2 billion and one of which went public with an $18 billion valuation. His hands-on experience provides audiences with practical lessons in scaling companies, managing innovation, and turning ideas into high-growth market leaders.
Prolific Author and Media Contributor
Peter has written 17 influential books, including his latest titles, Brain Rush: How to Invest and Compete in the Real World of Generative AI and Goliath Strikes Back: How Traditional Retailers Are Winning Back Customers from E-Commerce Startups. He is a senior contributor at Forbes and a regular contributor to Inc., translating complex business trends and emerging technologies into strategies that leaders can apply immediately.
Sought-After Keynote Speaker and Media Expert
A highly sought-after keynote speaker, Peter has appeared on ABC’s Good Morning America, Bloomberg, CNN, and other major media outlets. His insights have been quoted in The New York Times, Associated Press, Christian Science Monitor, and numerous other publications. He also appeared in the 2016 documentary We the People: The Market Basket Effect. Audiences value Peter’s ability to combine deep strategic knowledge with practical, real-world examples that inspire action and drive results.
Academic and Professional Excellence
Before founding his consulting and venture firm, Peter worked as a case team leader at Michael Porter’s consulting practice. He has also taught at MIT, Stanford, Columbia, and NYU, among other leading institutions. Recognized by RETHINK Retail as a Top 100 Retail Influencer in 2021, 2022, and 2023, Peter brings a rare blend of academic rigor, executive experience, and industry insight to every presentation.
Education and Credentials
Peter holds an MBA from Wharton, completed graduate studies in computer science at MIT, and earned a BS in Electrical Engineering from Swarthmore College. His presentations empower executives, entrepreneurs, and investors to harness technology, outthink the competition, and build sustainable business growth.
Peter Cohan Speaking Topics
Brain Rush: How to Invest and Compete in the Real World of Generative AI
In Brain Rush, Peter Cohan demystifies the generative AI revolution for business leaders and investors. Drawing on deep strategy insights and real world case examples, he explains how the latest wave of AI technologies is reshaping competitive advantage, product innovation, and enterprise value creation. In this keynote, Cohan translates complex AI trends into practical guidance on where to invest, how to assess risk, and how executives can adopt AI to outperform rivals — not by chasing hype, but by building sustainable strategic advantage in an AI enabled marketplace.
The Vision Makers: Inside the Billionaire Minds Shaping Tomorrow’s Technology
Peter Cohan brings unparalleled insight into the psychology and strategy of the world’s most visionary tech leaders. Drawing from decades of research, consulting experience, and his analysis of innovation ecosystems, this keynote peels back the curtain on how top founders and investors think, act, and prioritize. Attendees will gain rare access to the strategic frameworks and decision making patterns that have enabled technology giants and disruptors to redefine industries — and learn how to apply these lessons to their own organizations.
The AI Augmented CEO: How Cutting Edge Leaders Deploy AI to Outpace Their Rivals
In an era where capability beats scale, the AI Augmented CEO keynote equips senior leaders with a clear blueprint for gaining advantage through intelligent technologies. Based on Cohan’s writings and corporate strategy experience, this talk shows how top CEOs are integrating AI into strategy, operations, customer experience, and competitive positioning. Cohan highlights what works — and what doesn’t — translating emerging AI applications into strategic priorities that drive growth, efficiency, and market leadership in the age of intelligent automation.
Scaling Strategy: Mastering the Four Stages From Idea to $10 Billion
Grounded in his book Scaling Your Startup, Peter Cohan reveals the strategic playbook companies must follow to grow from a bold idea into a billion dollar enterprise. He breaks scaling into four actionable stages — from winning first customers to building scalable business models, sprinting toward liquidity, and sustaining long term growth — all illustrated with real world case studies. Whether you’re a founder or a corporate leader, this keynote provides a practical framework for navigating growth challenges, reinventing your organization as it evolves, and turning ambitious vision into enduring success.
Peter Cohan Books
Goliath Strikes Back: How Traditional Retailers Are Winning Back Customers from Ecommerce Startups
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Brain Rush: How to Invest and Compete in the Real World of Generative AI
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Disciplined Growth Strategies: Insights from the Growth Trajectories of Successful and Unsuccessful Companies
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Hungry Start-up Strategy: Creating New Ventures with Limited Resources and Unlimited Vision
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Capital Rising: How Capital Flows Are Changing Business Systems All Over the World
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You Can’t Order Change: Lessons From the Turnaround at Boeing
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Value Leadership: The 7 Principles that Drive Corporate Value in Any Economy
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eStocks: Finding the Hidden Blue Chips Among the Internet Impostors
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E-Profit High Payoff Strategies for Capturing the E-Commerce Edge
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Net Profit: How to Invest and Compete in the Wild World of Internet Business
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The Technology Leaders: How America’s Most Profitable High-Tech Companies Innovate Their Way to Success
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Peter Cohan Articles
Peter Cohan Speaker Testimonials
"The highest marks of any management development program we've ever had."
- Procter & Gamble | Director of Organizational Development
"Dazzling, engaging, informative, and actionable."
- Factiva | President
"Peter Cohan is the Peter Drucker of the new millenium."
- The Institute of Advertising, Singapore | President
"Peter Cohan flew 32 hours to Bangkok, got four hours of sleep, skipped lunch while captivating his audience for two hours. You will love his presentation and I urge each of you to buy his book and read it!"
- AMROP International | Managing Director
